Intelligent credit card system

ABSTRACT

A new credit card system which enables improved reading and other operations. Reading can be done in the short edge of the credit card thereby shortening the aspect ratio and size of the card reader. The reader can be electrical, reading information via contacts, or can be optical readers.

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/832,851 filedJul. 8, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,066,182 issued Nov. 29, 2011, which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/040,911, filed Mar. 2,2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,266 issued Jul. 13, 2010, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/690,074, filed Oct. 16,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,688 issued Apr. 22, 2008.

The present application describes a intelligent credit card system and anew way of reading such cards. One mode is specifically adapted forreading credit cards using portable phones.

BACKGROUND

Credit cards are often used in today's society for various purposes,including electronic transactions. Many credit cards are basically aflat piece of plastic with raised numbers. The raised numbers arebasically for legacy purposes; i.e., an old-style credit card devicethat takes an imprint of the raised letters. The credit card informationis also encoded on a magnetic strip on the back of the credit card.Newer machines will simply read the information from the credit card'smagnetic strip.

Credit card companies assess risk from a credit card transaction indifferent ways and pass on charges accordingly. Risk is often increasedwhen the credit card itself is not actually used. Credit card companieswill often charge extra service fees when the card is not physicallypresent at the time of the transaction.

It has been suggested to use additional identifying information alongwith the credit information. For example, some credit cards include aphotograph of the owner of the authorized user of the credit card. Ithas also been suggested to use biometric information in conjunction witha transaction, e.g., stored in a smart chip.

SUMMARY

The present application teaches new techniques and paradigms for use incredit card and/or a credit card reader. Different aspects of thissystem are described herein.

One aspect describes a system that reads the shorter edge of a creditcard, to minimize the size of the cardreader that is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a smart electronic card

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the credit card system from a more cut awayperspective and FIG. 3 shows a front side of the credit card device 100.

FIG. 4A shows a card which has its information read from the short edge;

FIG. 5A shows a reader for the card of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4B shows an alternative in which the card has its contacts hear theedge; rather than on the edge; and FIG. 5B shows a reader for this card;

FIG. 6 shows a side on view of the credit card once placed in the slot;

FIG. 7 shows a credit card using a biometric reader;

FIG. 8 shows a credit card with contacts on its opposing edges;

FIG. 9 shows a contact pattern of an embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows the present invention's credit card within a slot of acellular phone;

FIG. 11 shows an credit card with its edge only being inserted in acellular phone;

FIG. 12 shows another cell phone slot;

FIG. 13 shows another cell phone credit card slot with contacts on itsperpendicular edges;

FIG. 14 shows a modified magnetic stripe for use in such an edge readcredit card;

FIGS. 15A and 15B shows a credit card with a removable chip;

FIG. 16 shows a credit card with a bar code section;

FIG. 17 shows using an optical memory element;

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of operation;

FIG. 19 shows a credit card being used to store a cryptographic key;

FIG. 20 shows a credit card CD card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A number of embodiments are described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a smart, electronic credit card. Thecredit card 100 is shown mating with a special credit card readingapparatus 110. The front side of the credit card 102 includes a display104, and the rear side of the credit card may include a legacy magneticstripe 106. The front side of the credit card 102 may also include otherlegacy features such as raised lettering and the like.

As described herein, the display can display certain parts of theinformation that is stored in the credit card.

The view in FIG. 1 shows a hypothetical cross-section across the creditcard. This shows the different structure making up the improved creditcard. A first circuitry area 120 includes a processor and non-volatilememory. The credit card also includes first battery area 122, formingthe main battery. A supplemental battery 124 is also formed. These twobatteries may be connected to different locations. For example, thesupplemental battery 124 may operate only to provide credit cardinformation for a transaction. The main battery 122 may handlesupplemental information, such as display of information stored in thecredit card.

The circuitry area 120 also includes a communication device 123.Communication device may be a serial communication device, whichcommunicates data using a serial protocol such as RS-232, over theelectrical connection formed by the contacts 126 and 128. These contactsare connected to both the batteries 122, 124 and to serial device 123.The communication device can communicate by a short range RF protocol,such as Bluetooth™. One or more of the communications techniques can beincluded within the credit card.

The credit card can be mated with the credit card reader 110. The creditcard reader 110 includes special surfaces 130, 132 which press againstthe edges of the credit card, and hold the credit card into its properlocation where the electrical contacts 130, 134 on the card reader mateagainst the corresponding electrode areas 126, 128 on the credit card.When held in that location, electrical contacts 134, 136 come intocontact respectively with the electrodes 126, 128. When only twoelectrodes are used, another spacer element 135 is also provided whichholds the credit card flat on the receiving base. Alternately, three orfour electrodes can be used. When three are used, one positive contactcould be used with each battery; and one common ground. Four electrodesmay have the advantage of allowing very fast communications, e.g., usingFirewire™/IEEE 1394 protocol, or Universal serial bus (USB) protocol, ora fast Ethernet protocol.

As described in further detail herein, when the credit card is mountedon the receiving base 110, communication with the processor and memoryis carried via the contacts 134 respectively contacting the contacts128, 124. In addition, DC power is provided to the contacts, therebycharging the respective batteries at the same time. In one embodiment,the communications device 123 begins its attempt to communicate as soonas it receives a source of external power. This can include sendingpolls or requests over the serial and/or RF (e.g., Bluetooth) channels.

In an alternative mode, the battery or batteries may be eliminated, andreplaced by capacitors, or with no power storage unit at all. In thisalternative mode, the circuitry is powered by the connection only. Allmemories must be non-volatile, and when powered up, immediately begincommunicating the stored information.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the system from a more cut away perspectiveand FIG. 3 shows a front side of the credit card device 100. FIG. 2shows the four contacts 134, 136, 135, 137. FIG. 2 also shows moredetails about the side surfaces 130, 132. These side surfaces align thecredit card relative to the contacts 134, 136, to allow the credit cardto sit flat on the reader and properly aligned relative thereto.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the credit card. From the front view, itcan be seen that the credit card includes legacy numbers 300 whichinclude the raised lettering usually seen on a credit card. The creditcard also includes a display which can display certain information fromthe memory within the circuitry area 120. The display can display one ormore of the following items of information: the picture of theauthorized user, the credit card number of the credit card, creditremaining, signature information, biometric information, and otherinformation described herein. The credit card also includes actuatorbuttons 302, 304. By actuating the buttons, different functions can becarried out in different ways. The button 302 is an On switch, whichturns on the display and allows the information in the memory to bedisplayed. The button 304 is a selector switch, which allows scrollingthrough the different selections. For example, while the credit card ison, the selector switch may allow progressively scrolling between thedifferent allowable displayed modes of operation.

The selector switch can also be held down for an extended time, e.g., 2seconds, to enter a detail mode. For example, while in the transactionmode, the key can be held down to provide a list of stored transactions.This system can allow browsing the stored contents in the credit cardusing only two function keys. Alternatively, more function keys can beprovided.

While the system above describes use with a credit card, this can alsobe used with a debit card. The credit limit can then be replaced withbank balance for example.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 show the contacts being on the rear of thecredit card. An alternative system places the contacts in differentlocations.

One alternative contact system is shown in FIG. 4A. In this contactsystem, the credit card 400 is, as currently conventional, in the shapeof a rectangle with rounded edge corners. The rectangle includes alonger dimension (axis) 402 and a shorter dimension (axis) 404, meetingat the corners, where the term corners may include sharp, right angledcorners, rounded corners, or other shape corners. The contacts 408, 410are provided along the shorter dimension, specifically on the edge 406of the credit card that has the shorter dimension. These contacts carryout the functions described above, specifically allowing charging thebattery and also allowing communication with the circuitry contents ofthe credit card 400.

A card reader for the FIG. 4A system is shown in FIG. 5A. In this cardreader, surfaces 500, 502 respectively hold and make contact with thesurfaces 411, 413 of the credit card. The edge 406 is pushed into theslot 504. Once the edge is in that slot, the contacts 408, 410 makecontact with mating contacts 508, 510 in the slot. In this way, thecredit card information can be read by sliding its shorter edge into theslot. The credit card is preferably inserted into the slot in a way suchthat less than ½ of the length of the longer edge of the credit card isinserted in the slot, more preferably even less, as described herein.

This embodiment describes the contacts being on the edge of the creditcard. However, the contacts can alternatively be placed on the surfaceof the credit card, either front or back, but near the edge. Thisscenario is shown in FIG. 4B which shows a position of the contacts 450,452 on the surface of the credit card near the edge, (i.e., within 1inch of the edge). The corresponding reader is shown in FIG. 5B, havingspring-loaded contacts 454, 456.

FIG. 6 shows a side on view of the credit card once placed in the slot.In this embodiment, the credit card 400 is slid into the slot so thatthe contacts, e.g. 408, make contact with the mating contact on thereader 508. Similarly, the contact 410 makes contact with the matingcontact on the reader 510. Once that happens, the circuitry within thecredit card 400 is activated. The circuitry communicates with thecircuitry within the card reader shown generically as 520. As in theabove description, this circuitry can include a processor and can alsoinclude communication circuitry, e.g., a serial device. The processorcan communicate solely with the information in the credit card, butalternatively can also communicate remotely.

One advantage of this system is the ability to make the reader smaller.In this way, the reader can be located on smaller objects, e.g., on acell phone. Also, the depth “D” of the card reader can be small, e.g.,less than 1 inch, more preferably, less than ½ inch. The depth may besmall enough that the surfaces of the reader will not hold the creditcard in place by themselves; rather, the user must press the card orcontact will be lost.

This has the extra advantage of ensuring that the user does not leavethe card in the reader. Since the user must hold the card in place, theuser cannot simply walk away and leave the credit card there. Thisprovides a dual advantage: it allows a smaller reader and also forcesthe user to hold onto their credit card.

The credit card is pressed into place to begin communication. Whencommunication is complete, the system issues an indication of thecommunication being complete. The reader or card, indicating thatcommunication is complete, can produce a “beep”. Different sounds can beproduced for different actions. For example, one sound can indicateapproval for the amount of the sale, e.g. X dollars has been granted.Another, different beep, can signal that the transaction is declined.

After the indication, the user is asked to remove the credit card.

In this embodiment, the display 423 can also automatically display theuser's picture as stored in the memory of the credit card when the cardis powered by power on the contacts. The display shows the user'spicture, and can allow a clerk who is monitoring the credit cardtransactions to see whether an authorized is using the credit card, ornot.

One issue is that the display needs to be made very thin, in order toallow the credit card to have acceptance. Such displays may be expensiveor low quality. An alternative embodiment uses the communication device123 to send the information to a remote terminal, e.g., the terminalwhere the clerk is carrying out the transaction. The clerk's terminalcan display the information, e.g., available credit line, and/or theuser's picture. This can facilitate authorizing the transaction.

In another embodiment, the credit card 400 is shown in FIG. 7 within thereading slot 500. In this embodiment, the credit card includes abiometric reader, here a thumbprint reader 700. The user's thumb isplaced on the credit card thumb print reader, and information from thethumbprint is used to verify the user's identity. This can use datawhich is already within the credit card memory or can send the data to aremote location using the communication device 123.

This system can also use smart card style contacts on the credit card,in addition to, and/or in place of, the previously-discussed contactschemes.

This embodiment forms the slot to have edges that are generally parallelwith one edge of the reader. Other embodiments have edges which are notparallel with the edge of the reader.

An alternative contact arrangement is shown in FIG. 8. In thisembodiment, the credit card 800 includes two contacts 802, 804 alongrespective different edges of the credit card which form a corner of thecredit card. By using the corner of the credit card, the insertion depthcan be even further reduced.

The credit card of FIG. 8 is shown within the slot 810. In this way,only a very small part of the credit card, here shown as the hashedportion 820, needs to be inserted in the slot. This can provide aminimum amount of insertion into the slot.

One use for said credit cards is in remote communication devices, whichare portable devices in self contained housings that have the capabilityof communicating with a remote information server such as the internet.Remote communication devices may include portable telephones, remotecontrol devices, portable computers, and/or personal digital assistants.In any of these devices, the card can be inserted to carry out atransaction. The remote control can be a TV remote, or an x-10 remote,for example, which communicates with the television, and has itsinformation passed to the internet. The following Figures show thisoperating with a portable phone such as a cell phone. However, it shouldbe understood that this system could alternatively communicate with anyof the remote communications devices described herein.

FIG. 10 shows a view of the FIG. 4 credit card 400 inserted into a slotin a cellular phone 1000. The information from the credit card is readthrough the contacts into the cell phone. As shown, the credit card isinserted with the short end into to the cell phone to reduce the amountof cell phone area that is taken by the insertion. In this embodiment,information from the credit card may be transferred, along with asession key from encryption device 1010, and optionally also with GPSinformation from GPS receiver 1015. The use of the session key enablesthe remote authorizer to determine that the credit card is based on acard that is inserted now, and not on stored information. The sessionkey can be, for example, an encryption using a date and time stamp froma clock within the cell phone, or from the clock included in the cellphone carrier. As described above, certain credit card systems chargeextra when the credit card cannot be swiped. In this system, the creditcard is actually swiped as part of the procedure, and that fact iscryptologically ascertainable from the information.

The GPS device may provide additional security, since it may provideinformation about where the user physically was located when the usermade the transaction.

During the time while the credit card is inserted, the internalbatteries may be charged from the cell phone battery, or, if nobatteries are provided, the cell phone power may be used to power thecredit card's circuitry.

An alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11 inserts only the edge whichhas the contacts, and allows much or most of the credit card to stickout while being read. In this embodiment, the edge type credit card ofFIG. 8 may be coupled into the edge card reader in a cell phone. Atleast part of the each of the four edge surfaces 1110, 1112, 1114, 1116of the credit card are exposed, when the credit card is inserted in thereader. As can be seen, takes even less real estate on the cell phonefor the reader. Preferably, at least 50% of each edge surface isexposed, when the credit card is in the slot, more preferably ⅔ exposed(only ⅓ being inserted), more preferably 80%, and even more preferably,90%.

FIG. 12 shows using the edge contact credit card of FIG. 4. At leastpart (e.g., the percentages noted above) of all four edges stick outwhen the credit card is inserted.

FIG. 13 shows the edge-contact credit card of FIG. 8 being inserted atan angle relative to the walls of the cell phone housing. The edges ofthe credit card may be non parallel and non perpendicular to the wallsof the housing. For example, FIG. 13 shows the edges being inserted at a45 degree angle relative to the edges of the cell phone housing.

Alternative contact arrangements are also shown. Other machine readableforms of information can be placed on the credit card. FIG. 14 shows amodified “legacy” credit card system. FIG. 14 shows the credit card fromthe rear. The credit card stripe 1400 can be a magnetic stripe, which isintended to be run through a card reader of the currently conventionaltype, and hence has information that is running in the direction that isparallel to the long edge of the credit card. A portion 1402 of thestripe is, however, reserved. This portion of the stripe is written withinformation that is directed in the opposite direction, that is, in thedirection that is perpendicular to the long edge of the credit card. Theportion of the stripe can be the same width as the rest of the stripe,or, as shown, can be enlarged in some dimension as extended portion1404. The magnetic information on the portion of the stripe allows theshort edge of credit card to be read by a card reader.

In one aspect, parts of the magnetic strip are read/write designated, sothat they can be written with the kinds of information that have beendescribed above.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show a credit card of any of the embodiments disclosedherein which includes a removable chip therein. The removable chip canbe the smart chip of the type known in the art, or can be a biometricreader chip such as a fingerprint reader. The removable chip 1500 may belocated above the surface 1505 of the credit card. In this way, the chipcan be removed from the credit card for extra security.

FIG. 16 shows an embodiment in which either in addition to or in placeof the magnetic stripe 1400, a bar code section 1600 is provided. Thebar code section can include the user's information, such as credit cardnumber and/or biometric information, encoded into a bar code. This canuse techniques described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,377, filed Jul. 19,2000 to use a type 39 bar code, digitize the information treated as abase 39 number, and then encoded into the bars on the credit card. Thebar code can be written on a surface of the credit card, or can bewritten on the edge of the credit card.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 17 allows the information to beoptically read from the credit card. The optical reading could be avisual reading, such as optical character recognition, or bar codereading. It could alternatively write the information described hereininto an optical memory element, such as a hologram 1700. A hologram canencode different kinds of information into the same or similar space bychanging the Bragg angle of encoding. This hologram is located on theshort edge of the credit card, either on the edge, or adjacent the edge.The hologram can store any of the above described information,specifically, credit card number, biometric information, etc, and can beread by an edge-fed reader.

The hologram can be read only, or can be a read/write hologram.

In any of the above-described embodiments, the credit card is capable ofmany different kinds of actions. As disclosed herein, the credit cardcan be mated to the mating connector in FIG. 1, to one of the readersdescribed herein, or to a phone or other remote communication device.However mated, the processor in the mating electronics can carry out theflowchart shown in FIG. 18.

Since the credit card uses storage therein which enables the credit cardcontents to be used as part of a transaction, a first operation at 1800enables setting parameters. The parameters can include allowable numberof transactions, spending limits and authorized places. The conditionscan include time, specific allowed stores, and event. For example, theevent can allow a specified setting, with or without conditions, until acode such as a personal identification number (“pin”) is entered. Thepin can be stored in the non-volatile memory and entered via the keys onthe credit card.

Other conditions can include geographical restrictions or setting therestrictions to be on or off.

These events may allow the credit card to be used for actions byanother. A parent, for example, can give the credit card to a child oran employer can give the credit card to a worker. The owner can said thekinds of transactions, limits or authorized stores where the surrogatecan use the card. The owner can said the amount of time that theauthorization is valid, information on authorized surrogates (e.g.,their photo or biometric). The owner can also said an ending condition.For example, the user can tell the child that they can spend up to $200.They can said a spending limit either for the next 24 hours, or untilthe pin is entered to reset the card.

Speed codes may also be defined to allow quickly setting parameter setsthat the user might want often. A speed code may be entered by selectionusing the buttons on the credit card. For example, speed code menu maybe defined. The speed code S18 may allow a specified user to do aspecified action for a specified time, For example allow Joe Blow to buy$500 at Home Depot and automatically expire after 24 hours unless a pinis entered.

1810 allows managing users. This allows an alternative authorized user.For example, it may allow someone's worker or child to use the card,again with the condition and limits defined in 1800. One alternative isthat the limits may be preset to avoid duress, e.g. to avoid during arobbery the requirement that the user enter authorized users. The photoand/or biometric of the authorized user may be entered.

1830 defines a security mode. In the security mode, the credit card isonly activated if certain features occur. One aspect of the securitymode may include requiring the user to enter a personal identificationnumber or biometric information as part of each transaction. Users,however, may resist this extra step. Another aspect, therefore, requiresthe users to enter this identifying information every predeterminedinterval of time in order to keep the credit card valid. For example,the user might be required to enter the pin every 24 hours. If 24 hourselapses without the pin being entered, the user is signaled e.g. via thedisplay or via a beep, when they attempt to use the credit card.Thereafter, they can enter the pin into the card.

Additional keys, such as arrow keys, can be added to the credit card, toenable a pin to be entered. The user can scroll through differentoptions to select different letters and/or numbers.

Alternately, the code can be via a biometric reader. The pin can beentered via the user terminal, when the credit card is swiped. A touchsensitive screen can be used, to allow a keyboard to be displayed and toselect items from the keyboard. This system can also use a handwritingrecognition device such as the graffiti™ option of the palm™ operatingsystem.

FIG. 19 shows using the credit card for yet another new feature.Encryption of messages often requires that a private key be possessed bya user and maintained secret by the user. Different techniques have beendisclosed to maintain secret the private key. These techniques haveincluded, for example, keeping the private key on the user's computer.Other techniques disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No.09/577,449 have used the user's biometrics as the key or part of thekey.

According to the present system, the private key is stored in the creditcard e.g. in the removable chip part of the credit card or in the smartcard part. In one aspect, information from the removable smart card canbe stored into the nonvolatile memory but is stored with a temporarylife. For example, the information is stored in memory with anexpiration of one week or one month or like. After that time, thecircuitry automatically securely wipes the information from the memory.

FIG. 19 shows inserting the credit card into a credit card reader inorder to carry out encryption and/or decryption of a message. Since nosecurity is necessary for the public key, the public key can simply bestored in the nonvolatile memory 1905. The private key is stored ineither a smart chip 1900 or the nonvolatile memory in a more secure way.The private key is used to decrypt a message as explained herein. Aprocessor may be located on the credit card, to aid in decryption on thecredit card, so that the keys do not need to be sent off the creditcard.

Another aspect of the present system uses a credit card, as shown inFIG. 20, formed of the so-called CD card. Such CD cards aresubstantially the form and shape of a credit card, but have CD or DVDinformation imprinted thereon. Such CD cards are available, for example,from the CD card Corporation; www.CDcard.cc. In this embodiment, thecredit card information is printed on the front of the CD card, and moredetailed information is imprinted within the CD information. Forexample, the rear of the card may include a CD which stores biometricinformation about the user, including a users fingerprint, user's photo,and the like.

Other embodiments are within the disclosed invention. For example, thepresent application describes the ways that edges of credit cardsincluding the short edges, and the corners between two edges, of creditcards could be read. Two specific examples of short edges and corneredges are disclosed as reading from electrical contacts. It should beunderstood, however, that other forms of credit card information,including the disclosed optical storage, barcodes, and any other form ofcredit card information storage, could also be stored similarly on theedge of the credit cards. The present invention contemplates readingthese other kinds of information from the short edges of the credit cardand/or the corner of the credit card, as disclosed. All suchmodifications are intended to be encompassed within the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A credit card assembly comprising: a credit cardhaving a first electronic circuit that stores electronic informationthat is uniquely indicative of the credit card, and includes a memorystoring at least one encryption value that is unique to the credit card,said credit card having a processor in communication with said memoryand receiving said encryption value, and creating a session value basedon said at least one encryption value, said session value being a valuefrom which said encryption value cannot be ascertained, and said sessionvalue being a new value that was not used at a previous time, saidcredit card also including a communication device, that communicates atleast said session value to a remote authorization device.
 2. The creditcard assembly as in claim 1, wherein at least one encryption value has alimited lifetime, and expires after a set period.
 3. The credit cardassembly as in claim 1, wherein said session value requires encryptingat least one of a current date and/or time.
 4. The credit card assemblyas in claim 1, further comprising a location detecting part thatdetermines a current location electronically, and sends informationindicative of said current location as part of communicating saidsession value by said communication device.
 5. The credit card assemblyas in claim 1, wherein said credit card assembly requires an entry of apersonal identification number prior to carrying out at least onetransaction.
 6. The credit card assembly as in claim 1, wherein saidfirst electronic circuit is one that is read by a reader on a creditcard reading slot.
 7. The credit card assembly as in claim 1, whereinsaid communication device communicates said electronic informationwirelessly, wherein said communication device begins communicatingautomatically upon detecting a communication with an authorizationdevice.
 8. The credit card as in claim 1, wherein said communicationdevice communicates said credit card information wirelessly as awireless communication, and said credit card receives power from saidwireless communication.
 9. A system of transferring credit cardinformation, comprising: a credit card information transferring device,receiving credit card information electronically from a credit card; aprocessor, running a program that automatically receives said creditcard information from said credit card transferring device, andautomatically sending a transaction request over a network, including atleast one encryption value that is based on information in the creditcard, and from which said credit card information can be verified at acurrent time, but which cannot be used to create another value fromwhich the credit card can be verified at a different time; and wheresaid processor receives either an acceptance or a decline of saidtransaction based on said transaction request.
 10. The system as inclaim 9 wherein said credit card information transferring devicereceives said credit card information from a slot in which a credit cardcan be located.
 11. The system as in claim 9, wherein said credit cardinformation transferring device receives said credit card information byreading information wirelessly from the credit card using a wirelesscommunication device, that communicates wirelessly with the credit card,wherein said communication device begins communicating automaticallyupon detecting a wireless connection with said credit card.
 12. Thesystem as in claim 9, wherein said information transferring device ispart of a portable device in a self contained housing that communicatesover the internet and carries out other communication over the internetthat do not involve the credit card.
 13. The system as in claim 9,further comprising a sound producing device, that produces a first soundto indicate that the transaction has been accepted, and produces asecond different sound to indicate that the transaction has not beenaccepted.
 14. The system assembly as in claim 9, wherein said encryptionvalue includes an encrypted version of at least one of a current dateand/or time.
 15. The system assembly as in claim 9, further comprising apart that determines a current location electronically, and sendsinformation indicative of said current location over the network as partof the transaction request.
 16. A system, comprising: a portable devicein a self contained housing, said portable device communicating over theinternet; a credit card information reader, coupled to said portabledevice, and reading electronic information from a credit card, wheresaid electronic information is uniquely indicative of the credit card; aprocessor, in said portable device, and receiving said electronicinformation from said credit card information reader, and operating toobtain position information indicative of a current position of theportable device, and to carry out a verification of a transaction,including sending encrypted information indicative of said informationfrom said credit card, and said position information over the internet,along with information about a specific credit card transaction to becarried out, and to receive information from said network indicative ofauthorization or decline of the transaction, and where said portabledevice also carries out other communication over the internet that donot involve the credit card.
 17. The system as in claim 16, wherein saidencrypted information includes a session value from which an encryptionvalue on said credit card cannot be ascertained, but can be verified asbeing from said encryption value on said credit and said session valuebeing a value that can only be used at a current time and cannot be usedagain at a later time.
 18. The system as in claim 16, wherein saidcredit card information reader receives said credit card informationfrom a slot in which a credit card can be located.
 19. The system as inclaim 16, wherein said credit card information reader receives saidcredit card information by reading information wirelessly from thecredit card using a wireless communication device, that communicateswirelessly with the credit card.
 20. The system as in claim 16, furthercomprising a sound producing device, as part of said portable device,that produces a first sound to indicate that the transaction has beenaccepted, and produces a second different sound to indicate that thetransaction has not been accepted.
 21. The system as in claim 17,wherein said session value includes an encrypted version of at least oneof a current date and/or time.
 22. The system as in claim 17, furthercomprising a part that determines a current location electronically, andsends information indicative of said current location over the internetas part of the transaction.
 23. The system as in claim 17, wherein saidportable device is a mobile phone.